Unemployment Insurance

Still waiting for jobs, unemployment benefits
(Economic Policy Institute - July 9, 2010)

The latest employment report from the U.S. Labor Department showed that close to half of all unemployed workers have been looking for work for more than six months. Close to two million of these long-term unemployed workers have lost unemployment insurance benefits because of Congress’ failure to maintain an extension of emergency benefits.

EPI continues to track the number of unemployed workers who have fallen through the safety net and to highlight research showing that providing unemployment compensation is one of the best ways to stimulate spending and create jobs.

Jobs Report Card
(The Brookings Institution - July 6, 2010)

The U.S. employment report released last week was discouraging overall, showing some small job gains in a still-fragile economy. Brookings experts examine the new numbers in detail, including a look at state-level data and recommendations for an extension of unemployment insurance to avoid a double-dip recession.

Long-term unemployment: Causes, consequences and solutions
(Economic Policy Institute- May 26, 2010)

This EPI forum explored the dimensions of long-term employment, examined the magnitude of the problem, the effectiveness of the unemployment insurance safety net, and the long-term consequences of policy action or inaction. The claim that unemployment insurance is leading to higher unemployment was also addressed.The program included opening remarks from Lawrence Mishel and featured presentations from four renowned labor economists. The EPI link above includes a video of the event.